Schmid, Anna M.Anna M.SchmidThomas, Tobias A.Tobias A.ThomasBlümel, StefanStefanBlümel0000-0002-8436-7840Erdal, Nicolas K.Nicolas K.ErdalMüller, Silke M.Silke M.MüllerMerz, Christian J.Christian J.MerzWolf, Oliver T.Oliver T.WolfBrand, MatthiasMatthiasBrandMüller, AstridAstridMüllerSteins-Loeber, SabineSabineSteins-Loeber0000-0002-7651-06272025-03-032025-03-0320242045-2322https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/106852Habitual responses towards addiction-related cues play a relevant role in the development and maintenance of addictions. Such automatic responses may be more likely under stress, as stress has been shown to induce a shift from goal-directed to habitual behavior. The current study investigated these mechanisms in risky gaming behavior. Individuals with risky gaming behavior (n = 68), as established by a structured clinical interview, and a matched control group (n = 67) completed a Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) paradigm with gaming-related cues and rewards. After the Pavlovian training, participants underwent a stress (Trier Social Stress Test) or control condition before performing the instrumental training and the transfer phase of the PIT paradigm. To assess habitual behavior, the gaming-related rewards were devalued after half of the transfer phase. In both groups, gaming-related cues enhanced the choice of the gaming-related reward and this gaming PIT effect was reduced, however, not eliminated by the devaluation. Unexpectedly, stress did not significantly increase responding for the gaming-related reward in participants aware of the stimulus-outcome associations, however seemed to enhance habitual responding in unaware participants. Our findings underline the relevance of gaming-related cues in triggering habitual responses, which may undermine attempts to change a problematic gaming behavior.engGaming disorderPavlovian-to-instrumental transferHabitual behaviorConditioningCuesStress150article10.1038/s41598-024-73899-3